Altercation at state prison sends 7 to local hospital

SHIRLEY — An inmate and a staff member at Souza Baranowski Correctional Center suffered what officials described as non-life-threatening injuries after an altercation Wednesday afternoon.

According to Darren Duarte, a spokesman for the state Department of Correction, an inmate barricaded himself in a room with a staff member. An emergency response team was activated and resolved the incident using what Mr. Duarte described as "less than lethal and chemical responses to end the incident."

The victim, inmate, and five other staff members were taken to local hospitals for treatment, according to Mr. Duarte.